Karen Christiansen is President, a position she assumed in January 2020. In March 2026, Ms. Christiansen was named as the next Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2027. As President of the nation’s 3rd largest not-for-profit multi-site senior living organization, she oversees teams responsible for operations, finance, real estate, information technology, human resources, marketing, brand, and communications.
An Acts veteran of more than 25 years, Ms. Christiansen previously served as EVP & Chief Financial Officer and held other leadership roles, including Sr. VP Financial Services, VP & Controller, and Director of Finance. She was elected to the Acts Retirement-Life Communities Board of Directors in 2023.
Ms. Christiansen holds a B.S. in accounting from Gwynedd Mercy University, an MBA in finance from Temple University, and completed a leadership program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a member of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants.
She was previously nominated for Philadelphia Business Journal’s Women of Distinction Award. She is a former member of the LeadingAge Budget and Finance Committee, a former surveyor for CARF/CCAC, and a former member of its Financial Advisory Panel.